Daily devotion – faith to continue
1Co 3:7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
After delivering a sermon, a preacher often faces one of the most challenging moments in their ministry. The preacher has dedicated hours to an in-depth study of the Word of God, meticulously poring over the Scriptures to grasp the correct context of the passage and its true meaning. The profound blessings of studying the Scriptures are truly known only to those who have earnestly called upon the Lord, sought His heart, and immersed themselves repeatedly in the passages under scrutiny.
Then comes the moment of delivery, with the preacher hoping to articulate the message clearly, without slurring or mispronouncing names and places. They aim to speak systematically, with the icing on the cake being the application of the text to contemporary life.
However, uncertainty looms. The preacher is left wondering whether the seed of the Word has fallen on fertile soil, rebounded off hardened hearts, or been entirely disregarded. Planting and watering the Word is all that the preacher can do, akin to the farmers in the vast wheat belt. They can plow the field, sow the seed, and then they must patiently await results. Like the farmer whose success depends on timely rain, the preacher eagerly anticipates signs of growth, but quick results are often elusive.
For many preachers, the immediate impact of their sermons is limited. Nevertheless, they persist and prepare anew for the series of teachings planned for the following week.
It requires faith on the part of the listeners to allow the seed of the Word to bear fruit in hearts that are receptive, just as it takes enduring faith for the preacher to step back and pray with hope for a harvest. The preacher recognizes that, like the farmer who cannot conjure rain for the crops, there is nothing they can do to produce the much-needed spiritual growth.
This understanding underscores why preachers and pastors are individuals whom God has called. In numerous instances, their strength to persevere, restart, and prepare once more is fueled solely by their profound love, their calling and unwavering obedience to their blessed Savior, Jesus Christ.
Prayers for the pastors’ teaching and for the hearts of the hearers to be fertile ground play a pivotal role in ushering forth God’s harvest. Every individual can contribute significantly to witnessing the fulfillment of God’s divine plan.